WTA Nottingham: Beatriz Haddad Maia vs McCartney Kessler

WTA Nottingham: Beatriz Haddad Maia vs McCartney Kessler – Grass-Court Revenge or Repeat?

🧠 Form & Context

Beatriz Haddad Maia 🇧🇷
📉 Struggles in 2025: A 7–17 season marked by inconsistency and injuries, including just 2 wins in her last 10 outings.
🧠 Lost Aura: Once a grass-court threat (Nottingham champion in 2022), Haddad Maia has suffered recent defeats to lower-ranked players like Kartal and Sramkova.
🆘 Mental Fragility: Frequent pattern of losing after taking early leads suggests lapses in focus and stamina.
💡 Revenge Motivation: Was upset by Kessler in the 2024 Cleveland final—today is a potential redemption opportunity.
McCartney Kessler 🇺🇸
🚀 Breakout Year: A Hobart title and Austin final have propelled her into the Top 50. With 22 wins, 2025 is already a career-best season.
💪 Giant Killer: Has scalped big names like Gauff and Anisimova and narrowly lost to Zheng Qinwen at Queen’s.
🌱 Still Adapting to Grass: 5–4 career record, but her compact mechanics and high rally tolerance translate surprisingly well to this surface.
🧠 Psychological Edge: Beat Haddad Maia in a tight three-setter in last year’s Cleveland final.

🔍 Match Breakdown

Haddad Maia’s lefty spin and baseline craft can be effective on grass—but only if her movement and focus hold up. She’s been unable to string together sustained stretches of confidence in 2025, and that leaves her vulnerable to opponents who extend rallies and stay mentally dialed in. That’s exactly what Kessler brings: consistency, grit, and an ability to stay calm under pressure. Her backhand is especially solid, and while she won’t dominate with power, she rarely beats herself. Expect the Brazilian to strike first with variety and early aggression, but as the match wears on, Kessler’s steadiness could expose Haddad Maia’s recent fragility.

🔮 Prediction

Pick: McCartney Kessler in 3 sets Summary: Haddad Maia may start brighter, but Kessler’s confidence, court discipline, and recent form should win out over time.

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📊 Tale of the Tape

• 2025 W/L: Haddad Maia 7–17 | Kessler 22–12
• Grass Record (Career): Haddad Maia 19–11 | Kessler 5–4
• H2H: Kessler leads 1–0 (2024 Cleveland Final)
• Recent Form: Haddad Maia ❄️ | Kessler 🔥